Preparing for a role in an independent film or getting ready for Halloween? Special effects wound makeup plays an important role in achieving the look of realistic injuries. From powders and eyeshadows to fake blood and adhesives, no special effects makeup kit is complete without wax. To create a deep wound, burn or scar, use nose and scar wax.
Wax is readily available from most local party supply chains or seasonal costume stores. Apply it thinly or in thick layers to achieve many different looks. Accentuate each wound with different colors of makeup to achieve the look of an infection, bruise or deep puncture.
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Follow these instructions to achieve many looks that require special effects makeup.
1. Bruise and cut makeup
Use sponges and brushes to add the appearance of fresh bruises and open cuts. Work under the eyes, on the cheekbones and above the lip. Blend makeup in the shades of red, purple and yellow for different effects.
Use sponges and brushes to add the appearance of fresh bruises and open cuts. Work under the eyes, on the cheekbones and above the lip. Blend makeup in the shades of red, purple and yellow for different effects.
2. Missing eye makeup
Paint a round piece of cardboard black. Adhere it to the cheekbone and bottom of the eyebrow with liquid latex. Add faux blood to complete the missing eye effect.
Paint a round piece of cardboard black. Adhere it to the cheekbone and bottom of the eyebrow with liquid latex. Add faux blood to complete the missing eye effect.
3. Bloody rampage facial makeup
Dip the teeth of a comb in red makeup. Gently drag the comb in different directions across the forehead; add more red makeup and drag the comb down the cheeks and neck. Complete the effect by brushing red makeup over and under eyelids and around the mouth.
Dip the teeth of a comb in red makeup. Gently drag the comb in different directions across the forehead; add more red makeup and drag the comb down the cheeks and neck. Complete the effect by brushing red makeup over and under eyelids and around the mouth.
4. Cut makeup
Use nose and scar wax to make a fake cut look realistic. After making an incision in the wax, apply powder. Brush fake blood in the incision to complete the look.
Use nose and scar wax to make a fake cut look realistic. After making an incision in the wax, apply powder. Brush fake blood in the incision to complete the look.
5. Zombie effects makeup
Cover the entire face and neck in white makeup. Apply a matte dark eyeshadow around the eye. Brush the eyeshadow to the brow for the appearance of sunken eyes. Add fake blood around the corners of the mouth.
Cover the entire face and neck in white makeup. Apply a matte dark eyeshadow around the eye. Brush the eyeshadow to the brow for the appearance of sunken eyes. Add fake blood around the corners of the mouth.
6. Sewn mouth makeup
Use a lip pencil to make five dots above the top lip. The first dot should appear above the indention in the center of the upper lip; add two dots to each side of the first dot. Repeat the process below the lower lip. Apply spirit gum adhesive to all 10 dots. Adhere a piece of thread to a dot above the upper lip; place the opposite end of the thread to a dot below the bottom lip. Continue the process until five pieces of thread run parallel across the mouth.
Use a lip pencil to make five dots above the top lip. The first dot should appear above the indention in the center of the upper lip; add two dots to each side of the first dot. Repeat the process below the lower lip. Apply spirit gum adhesive to all 10 dots. Adhere a piece of thread to a dot above the upper lip; place the opposite end of the thread to a dot below the bottom lip. Continue the process until five pieces of thread run parallel across the mouth.
7. Burn makeup
Use clear liquid adhesive to give the appearance of a wrinkled, dried out look to skin. Use powder to dull the shine of the clear latex, then apply a flesh-colored liquid latex over the powder. Enhance gaps and holes with different shades of makeup, add more latex, then brush the skin with black powder. Peel away some of the burnt "skin" (latex) to expose pink "flesh."
Use clear liquid adhesive to give the appearance of a wrinkled, dried out look to skin. Use powder to dull the shine of the clear latex, then apply a flesh-colored liquid latex over the powder. Enhance gaps and holes with different shades of makeup, add more latex, then brush the skin with black powder. Peel away some of the burnt "skin" (latex) to expose pink "flesh."
8. Stab wound makeup
Mold synthetic modeling wax into the shape of a stab wound. Apply the wax to the skin, smoothing it with your fingers to flatten it. Use a plastic utensil to make a cut mark in the wax, then apply powder to blend with skin. Brush blush and purple eyeshadow around the edges of the wound. Apply fake blood to the wound.
Mold synthetic modeling wax into the shape of a stab wound. Apply the wax to the skin, smoothing it with your fingers to flatten it. Use a plastic utensil to make a cut mark in the wax, then apply powder to blend with skin. Brush blush and purple eyeshadow around the edges of the wound. Apply fake blood to the wound.
9. Bloody eyes makeup
Outline the eyes in black eyeliner to make eyes a focal point of your makeup. Apply red eyeshadow around the eyes, brushing the eyeshadow downward toward the side of the nose. Smear fake blood into the ends of eyeshadow on both sides of the eye, then let it run downward into a drip.
Outline the eyes in black eyeliner to make eyes a focal point of your makeup. Apply red eyeshadow around the eyes, brushing the eyeshadow downward toward the side of the nose. Smear fake blood into the ends of eyeshadow on both sides of the eye, then let it run downward into a drip.
10. Frozen makeup
Cover the face with white makeup. Accentuate features with dark purple makeup to give the appearance of frostbite. Apply clear liquid adhesive to the face. Sprinkle sea salt on the adhesive to complete the frozen effect.
Cover the face with white makeup. Accentuate features with dark purple makeup to give the appearance of frostbite. Apply clear liquid adhesive to the face. Sprinkle sea salt on the adhesive to complete the frozen effect.
11. Deep wound makeup
Apply nose and scar wax to the calf or bicep. Use a plastic utensil to cut out deep chunks of the wax, then add wet, wadded up toilet paper to add "meatiness" to sections of the wound. Brush the wound yellow and white with effects makeup, then apply fake blood. Brush or spray with clear epoxy to give the wound a fresh, wet appearance.
Apply nose and scar wax to the calf or bicep. Use a plastic utensil to cut out deep chunks of the wax, then add wet, wadded up toilet paper to add "meatiness" to sections of the wound. Brush the wound yellow and white with effects makeup, then apply fake blood. Brush or spray with clear epoxy to give the wound a fresh, wet appearance.
12. Bloody knuckles
Sponge green, purple, red and blue makeup onto fingers and knuckles. Apply fake blood to knuckles. Bandage hands to complete the look of injured hands with bloody knuckles.
Sponge green, purple, red and blue makeup onto fingers and knuckles. Apply fake blood to knuckles. Bandage hands to complete the look of injured hands with bloody knuckles.
Fierce League
13. Bullet wound makeup
Mold flesh-colored modelling wax into the shape of a ring. Apply the ring to the forehead and blend with skin. Apply fake blood to the center of the ring to make a realistic bullet wound.
Mold flesh-colored modelling wax into the shape of a ring. Apply the ring to the forehead and blend with skin. Apply fake blood to the center of the ring to make a realistic bullet wound.
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